BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 
185 
ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONIFERJ^ IN 
CANADA. 
By the Hon, William Sheppard, D.C.L,, F.B.S.C., of Fairymead, Drummondville, 
Lower Canada. 
Pinus BanJcsiana (Gray Pine).f — This is essentially a northern pine, not hav- 
ing been observed south of the St. Lawrence. It grows abundantly in Labrador, 
and up the north shore of the St. Lawrence, among the rocks of the Laurentian for- 
mation. At St. Paul's Bay it has taken possession of the sand dunes near the shore. 
It appears again at Quebec, on the road to Caprouge, though now nearly all cut 
away. A few full-grown specimens are preserved in Mount Hermon Cemetery, as 
a memorial of an extensive grove formerly inhabiting that vicinity ; the soil there 
being the shale of the Oneida sand-stones. Proceeding upwards, we find it in some 
quantity on the sandhills at Three Rivers. This pine inhabits extensively that Lau- 
rentian tract of country between the headwaters of the Saguenay westward to Lake 
Huron, occupying the fissures of the rocks. It appears to thrive on the dryest and 
worst of soils. It attains a height of 40 to 50 feet, but is worthless for any eco- 
nomical purpose. The branches are open and distant, not making a picturesque ob- 
ject, except in connection with the wild scenery in which it delights to dwell. 
Pinus rigida (Pitch Pine). — A scarce tree in Canada ; found by Mr. C. Billings, 
near Brockville, and may be sought for with probable success in the Laurentian 
Hills, between that town and Kingston, and among the Thousand Islands. Possibly 
the P. Banhsiaria may also be discovered in the same locality. Its principal habi- 
tats are from Lake Champlain southwards. 
• Pinus resinosa (Red Pine ; also, though improperly, called Norway Pine). — 
This pine is found in scattered localities on many of the tributaries of the St. Law- 
rence and the Bay of Quinte, but in the greatest abundance at the headwaters of 
the Ottawa, growing in the poorest land. Very large quantities of this timber — 
principally from the last mentioned tract of country — are yearly floated down to 
market at Quebec for exportation. It attains a height of from 60 to 70 feet , and 
the trunks are straight, and generally free from branches to the height of 30 to 40 
feet. The timber of this species, if not quite equal, at least approaches in quality 
to that of the Norway Pine, which is obtained in commerce principally from the 
ports in the Baltic. Next, after white pine, it forms the greatest article of exporta- 
tion from Canada. The young branches are well furnished with long leaves of a 
dark-green color, giving the tree a massive appearance, yet it is wanting in pictur- 
esque effect. 
+ Omitting the diagnoses, I give the botanical name from Dr. A. Gray's " Manual of the Botany of the 
Northern States," a sufficient identification of the plants ; the common names are for the most part local 
*t 
